Kicking off from a 3-0 win against St. Charles Community College
BY: LAUREN JOHNS
Art & Life Editor
The women’s soccer team at Meramec is on a roll with two goals per game and a three-time winning streak. In addition, after returning from several away games in Memphis, Tennessee and Senatobia, Mississippi with a score of 2-0, they have high hopes for Nationals.
Coach Jason Wyland said he admires the team for their depth and willingness to play at a high level. He coached several of the girls prior to Meramec on his club
team.
“With regular season games, we focus more on our own identities than those of the opponents,” said Wyland. “It doesn’t matter who’s playing; all that matters is how we play. However, postseason games are a different story.”
On Oct. 2, the team played against St. Charles Community College and won 3-0.
Despite their successful current and past seasons, one of the four team captains, Hannah Leahy, said they did not make it to Nationals last year.
“I really want to help us get there, but the crazy turnover with how we lose half our team every other year makes it difficult,” said Leahy. “We are very freshmen-heavy this year, so there’s a lot of off the field mentoring.”
Despite acting as a mentor, Leahy also leads all warm-ups (alongside the other captains) and makes decisions on jerseys.
Kaitlin Eppers, a player, said she enjoys how well everything seems to come together and the ways the team members balance each other out.
“We have very versatile players and most of us come from select soccer backgrounds,” said Eppers. “I wouldn’t say we have someone who is the best on the team, but Bailey Beeler is the most well-rounded.”
Aside from the regular playing process, Eppers said she believes pre-game rituals are a necessity.
“Mental preparedness is not thinking about anything unrelated to the game,” said Eppers. “I visualize myself how I normally do things in competition.”
